Nicoletta Lanese is the health channel editor at Live Science and was previously a news editor and staff writer at the site. She is a recipient of the 2026 AHCJ International Health Study Fellowship, with a project focused on antibiotic stewardship practices in Japan and the U.S. They hold a graduate certificate in science communication from UC Santa Cruz and degrees in neuroscience and dance from the University of Florida. Beyond Live Science, Lanese's work has appeared in The Scientist, Science News, the Mercury News, Mongabay and Stanford Medicine Magazine, among other outlets. Based in NYC, she also remains involved in dance and performs in local choreographers' work.
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'Minibrains' reveal secrets of how key brain cells form in the wombMiniature models of the brain have revealed a "previously unappreciated" role of microglia, a type of cell found within the organ. The finding could help unpack how disorders such as autism arise.
By Nicoletta Lanese Published
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If 'pregnancy robots' were real, would you use one?A viral story raised the idea of using robots outfitted with artificial wombs to incubate human babies from conception to birth. If such technology existed, would you consider using it?
By Nicoletta Lanese Published
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$14,000 pregnancy robot from China isn't real. But is a similar technology possible?A story circulating on social media this week featured a seemingly made-up scientist who is developing an equally imaginary "pregnancy robot." Virality ensued.
By Nicoletta Lanese Published
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FDA recalls more bagged, frozen shrimp over possible radioactive cesium contaminationThe FDA is warning consumers not to eat certain frozen shrimp products sold at Walmart after other products from the same company tested positive for a radioactive substance.
By Nicoletta Lanese Last updated
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A man's preference for 'soft' bacon may have given him brain wormsA man in the U.S. reported worsening migraine symptoms. It turned out that a pork tapeworm had invaded his brain.
By Nicoletta Lanese Published
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Special protection may help human eggs stay fresh as the body agesA new study suggests that the mitochondria in human egg cells don't accumulate DNA mutations with age, which sets them apart from other tissues in the body.
By Nicoletta Lanese Published
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Man sought diet advice from ChatGPT and ended up with dangerous 'bromism' syndromeA case report describes an incident in which a man seeking to make a dietary change consulted ChatGPT and later developed "bromism," a rare "toxidrome."
By Nicoletta Lanese Published
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'These decisions were completely reckless': Funding cuts to mRNA vaccines will make America more vulnerable to pandemicsInterview mRNA expert Jeff Coller spoke with Live Science about the future of mRNA vaccines in the United States in the aftermath of huge federal funding cuts.
By Nicoletta Lanese Published
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A woman had something in her eye — and it turned out to be parasitic wormsA woman went to the hospital several times with the feeling that something was stuck in her eye. It turned out to be parasites.
By Nicoletta Lanese Published
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Experimental HIV vaccines show promise in early safety testSeveral vaccines for HIV have been tested in animal studies and an early safety trial in people, showing promising results in both.
By Nicoletta Lanese Published
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'Universal' cancer vaccine heading to human trials could be useful for 'all forms of cancer'A new mRNA-based vaccine triggers a response from the innate immune system to help arm the body against cancer, a mouse study finds. It's now in early human trials.
By Nicoletta Lanese Published
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Pizzeria mishap left at least 85 people intoxicated with THC after infused oil used for doughIn 2024, an odd outbreak of THC intoxication hit more than 80 people in Wisconsin after a pizzeria accidentally used oil infused with the psychoactive ingredient.
By Nicoletta Lanese Published
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Memories aren't static in the brain — they 'drift' over timeA new mouse study of spatial memory suggests that the brain's representation of places "drifts" over time.
By Nicoletta Lanese Published
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Raw milk carrying Salmonella sickened 170 people in 5 states, mainly kidsA new report authored by California health officials describes a raw-milk-related outbreak of Salmonella that sickened dozens in 2023 and 2024.
By Nicoletta Lanese Published
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Best-ever map of the human genome reveals 'hidden' regions of DNAIn a pair of papers, scientists greatly expanded our catalog of known genomic variation among humans.
By Nicoletta Lanese Published
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Male birth control pill passes early safety test, with more trials underwayAn experimental birth control pill for males works by blocking sperm production, and it just passed its first safety test in humans.
By Nicoletta Lanese Published
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Weird swelling of man's fingers and toes revealed cancer had 'completely replaced' the bones with lesionsMarked swelling in a man's finger and big toe was a symptom of late-stage cancer.
By Nicoletta Lanese Published
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8 babies spared from potentially deadly inherited diseases through new IVF 'mitochondrial donation' trialA groundbreaking trial in the U.K. has released data on eight babies born through a special IVF procedure to lower their risk of mitochondrial DNA disease.
By Nicoletta Lanese Published
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The choice of sperm is 'entirely up to the egg' — so why does the myth of 'racing sperm' persist?In her new book "The Stronger Sex," science journalist Starre Vartan dispels myths and misconceptions about the female body.
By Starre Vartan Published
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Experimental treatment for high cholesterol edits DNA in the body to reduce LDLAn experimental treatment called VERVE-102 lowers the amount of "bad" cholesterol in the blood of people with specific cholesterol-raising conditions.
By Nicoletta Lanese Published
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Man in Australia dies of rare, rabies-like diseaseA man in New South Wales was exposed to a rare relative of the rabies virus and died of the resulting infection. His was only the fourth case of the disease ever documented.
By Nicoletta Lanese Published
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8-year-old with rare, fatal disease shows dramatic improvement on experimental treatmentA child with a rare genetic disease that affects mitochondria is the first person to receive a new experimental treatment for the potentially life-threatening condition.
By Nicoletta Lanese Published
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Shingles popped a hole in a man's bladderA man suffered a rare complication of shingles and ended up with a ruptured bladder.
By Nicoletta Lanese Published
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The rare genetic disease that gives babies hard 'scales'The genetic disease harlequin ichthyosis affects the transport of fats within the skin, resulting in hard, scalelike plaques and an array of other symptoms.
By Nicoletta Lanese Published

